1. Tenement- apartment, generally cheaply built and poorly maintained
2. Bouts- matches; contests
3. Elimination- removal from competition
4. Barrage- heavy, prolonged attack
5. Pensively- thoughtfully
6. Torrent- flood or rush
7. Interwoven- connected closely, blended
8. Dispelled- driven away
9. Evading- avoiding
10. Frenzied- wild
Summary Antonia Cruz and Feliz Vargas are seventeen-year-old best friends who both dream of becoming the lightweight boxing champion of the world. Inseparable, they train and run together until they find out that they will meet in the ring for the privilege of representing the Boys’ Club in the Golden Gloves Championship Tournament. They pledge not to go easy on each other and then agree not to see each other until the big night, a week away. The night before the confrontation each boy anguishes over the prospect of combat with his best friend. The next night, a roaring crowd, the boys trade punishing blows through three furious rounds as the advantage shifts back and forth. At the end of the third and final round, both boys are still standing. They rush to embrace each other, and as the referee is about to announce the winner, the boys are out of earshot, having already left the ring arm in arm.
Comprehension Points
1. In order to fight each other, Felix and Antonia decide that each must think of his best friend as a stranger.
2. When Felix tells Antonio that he wants to win the fight, “fair and square,” he means that he does not want Antonio to let him win.
3. Felix sees himself as the champion and Antonio as the challenger like in the movie The Champion.
4. The boys share a collection of Fight magazines. Felix is strong puncher and Antonio is the better boxer.
5. The external conflict in the story is resolved when Antonio and Felix leave the ring together.
6. Felix and Antonio have gold-plated medals, scrapbooks of boxing match tickets and positive attitudes in common.
7. Felix and Antonio’s appearance is in contract is this story.
8. An internal conflict can involve a struggle between a person and his or her emotions.
9. The internal conflict that both Felix and Antonio face is how each can best pursue his own goal without hurting his best friend.
Essay Question Imagine that either Felix or Antonio had not fought his very best. How do you think this would have affected the amigo brothers’ friendship? Why? Use at least two details from the selection to support your ideas.
Piri Thomas
Words to Own:
Summary
Antonia Cruz and Feliz Vargas are seventeen-year-old best friends who both dream of becoming the lightweight boxing champion of the world. Inseparable, they train and run together until they find out that they will meet in the ring for the privilege of representing the Boys’ Club in the Golden Gloves Championship Tournament. They pledge not to go easy on each other and then agree not to see each other until the big night, a week away. The night before the confrontation each boy anguishes over the prospect of combat with his best friend. The next night, a roaring crowd, the boys trade punishing blows through three furious rounds as the advantage shifts back and forth. At the end of the third and final round, both boys are still standing. They rush to embrace each other, and as the referee is about to announce the winner, the boys are out of earshot, having already left the ring arm in arm.
Comprehension Points
Essay Question
Imagine that either Felix or Antonio had not fought his very best. How do you think this would have affected the amigo brothers’ friendship? Why? Use at least two details from the selection to support your ideas.